Free Family Events This Weekend (May 17 & 18)

Have all the fun without spending a dime! For even more great ideas this weekend, check out our weekend planner!

Saturday, May 17

Spring Kids Fest
Madison Square Park
10:30am-1:30pm
Celebrate spring and the wonderful weather at a very special kids fest at Madison Square Park! Don’t miss out on this free, super fun outdoor event, which will feature a ton of activities for little ones, including snacks, live shows, games, face painting, story telling, and much more!

8th Annual Dance Parade
21st and Broadway
1pm
Over 10,000 dancers from 142 groups will gather this Saturday to represent 77 styles of dance at the 8th Annual Dance Parade. The parade begins at 1pm, followed by an energetic festival at 3pm. With four stages, including a main stage, teaching stage, family stage, and celebration stage, there will be plenty to see and do!

Saturday and Sunday, May 17 & 18

9th Avenue International Food Festival
9th Ave. between 42nd and 57th
All day
Enjoy fifteen city blocks worth of gourmet food and beverages all weekend long! The 9th Avenue International Food Festival is the best place to find cuisine from Asian to Cajun to anything else! Along with food stands, there will be arts and crafts, family friendly children’s games, and entertainment.

Sunday, May 18

Grand Opening: Flow.14
Randall’s Island Park
1-3pm
Flow, an annual summer art exhibition at Randall’s Island Park, is having a grand opening that is free and open to the public. Offerings from this wonderful showcase include interactions with the artists and their pieces, Latin music, and a lively children’s dance performance from RIPA’s Musical Arts Program.

11th Annual Mamapalooza
Riverside Park
12pm-5pm
Moms deserve the best, so this annual Mamapalooza is the perfect way to celebrate mothers everywhere! The music- and art-filled festival at Pier i in Riverside Park holds exciting offerings, including family concerts, kids activities, a Gymboree Play tent, food vendors, and much more!

Neighborhood Concert: Le Vent du Nord
Abrons Arts Center
3pm
For a special blend of musical styling, check out Le Vent Du Nord, one of Carnegie Hall’s Neighborhood Concerts. This high-energy folk band incorporates a specific mix of French-Canadian and Celtic dance music, traditional tunes, and original songs into their show, which features vocals, guitar, fiddle, button accordion, and hurdy-gurdy.